Application & Admissions

Prospective students may apply for admission only for the Fall semester. We do not admit new graduate students in the Spring or Summer semesters. The deadline for application to the
MFA and
PhD programs is
January 15, 2017.

All required application materials are available from links listed below. Please carefully follow the steps described below to ensure that you have submitted a complete application. Linked documents will open in a new browser window.

Complete the University application materials—PhD or MFA

You must apply to the University online.

Online application. If you are paying the University application fee by personal or bank check or postal money order ($30.00 payable to “University of Florida”), print out the signature page of the online application form and enclose it with the check or money order in a sealed envelope marked “Application Fee.” These materials should be mailed directly to the University admissions office at the address shown below. (If your application fee was paid online with a credit card, you do not need to return the signature page or additional payment.)

The application fee is non-refundable. It is valid for one calendar year: an application may be updated within one year from the original anticipated term of admission without payment of a new application fee. Requests to update applications beyond one year will require submission of a new UF application form and payment of a new application fee.
Applicants for admission to any of the Department’s graduate degree programs are automatically considered for financial aid, in the form of Fellowships and/or Assistantships. (No additional form required.)

The UF online Admissions application requires:

One official copy of your transcripts must be sent to the Office of Admissions at the above address.You may also submit your transcript electronically if your school offers the option of sending electronic transcripts. However, please note that the University of Florida only accepts electronic transcripts managed by the services e-SCRIP-SAFE, Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, and F.A.S.T.E.R. Please also submit an unofficial transcript through the online application.

Official copy of your scores on the verbal, math, and analytic portions of the Graduate Record Examination must be included in the online UF admissions application. We do not require that you take the English Subject test. Our GRE reporting codes are as follows: Institution code – 5812 / Department code – 2501.

Completing the PhD application.

All applicants are automatically considered for graduate school and department fellowships with two important exceptions which require additional materials and an additional application; in the case of the McKnight:

Submit a writing sample directly to the department. The writing sample should demonstrate your best work in criticism or theory and be about 15 pages. Please send it as a .pdf file to: phd-admissions@english.ufl.edu. The subject line should read: Last Name, First Name, Year Applying, “PhD Applicant.” Do not include the writing sample in your online application.

The department does not accept paper submissions.

Instructions for completing the online application (for PhD applicants only)When you enter the application system, please note the menu items near the top of the page. These items will appear orange if that page is incomplete, and turn blue when the page is completed. When all pages are completed, and all items are blue, you can select “Submit” from the legend to complete the submission and fee payment processes.

Personal Info: Please complete this section in its entirety.

Special Programs Info: Relevant for applicants to certain fellowships such as the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship.

Degree Program: Please complete this section as follows:

Intended Term and Year: Fall (August) 2017

Degree Goal: PhD

Program of Study: English

Program specialization: (leave blank)

Department contact name: Kathy Williams

Personal Statement: The department will accept statements of up to 800 words; these can be pasted into the box provided despite indications to the contrary.

Education and Activities: Please complete this section in its entirety.

You are given the option of uploading a resume and unofficial transcript. Please upload both. You must also submit an official transcript to the university which can be done by mail:

You may also submit your transcript electronically if your school offers the option of sending electronic transcripts. However, please note that the University of Florida only accepts electronic transcripts managed by the services e-SCRIP-SAFE, Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, and F.A.S.T.E.R.

Residency Affidavit: All applicants must complete this section, regardless of residency status.

Recommendations: We require three recommendations, but will accept more. These should be completed by someone in a position to assess your ability to succeed in the program. We prefer that you use the online tool to submit your recommendations, but will also accept recommendations directly from recommenders if they have trouble submitting their letters through the online application. In this case, please ask them to send the letter in pdf format to phd-admissions@english.ufl.edu with the following subject line: your Last Name, First Name, Year Applying, “PhD Applicant.”

The following application items may also be required for international students:

Official TOEFL Score Report: If English is not your native language and if you have not been enrolled for one year or longer at an institution in an English-speaking country, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required. Residents of US territories and protectorates must submit TOEFL scores.

Official copy in the original language of official academic transcripts and diploma or Certification Statement of Degree Confirmation from each university or college attended, along with certified, literal (exact) English translations for documents not originally issued in English.